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ONTARIO >> It was a game both teams needed to have any kind of shot at the Baseline League title, and both Upland and Etiwanda played very tightly at Colony High School on Friday night.

But in a span of less than two minutes, Upland scored twice and then held on to post a 26-19 win over the Eagles that sets up next week’s title clash with undefeated Rancho Cucamonga. The consolation prize for Etiwanda is a game with Los Osos for a CIF-SS Inland Conference playoff berth.

Following a rather sluggish first half, the teams combined to score 21 points in the first eight minutes of the second half.

That pretty much signaled the end as the Eagles (5-4, 2-2) could only cut the margin to four points before a game-sealing 27-yard field goal by Upland’s Luke Van Ginkel with 5:49 remaining.

Upland is 6-3, 3-1 after its third straight win.

Etiwanda went ahead 13-9 to open the second half as the Eagles drove 80 yards in eight plays, converting just one third-down call. Quarterback Darryn Ratliff hit Kempsen Pearce with a 14-yard pass for the lead.

That woke up the Scots.

On its next possession, Upland took advantage of an Eagle penalty to start its drive near midfield. In six plays, the Scots covered 56 yards as QB Tyler Hilinski hit Devanb Clark with a 2-yard pass. The Scots earned three first downs via penalty, while Etiwanda had four of the variety.

Leading 16-13, Upland extended its margin as Hasani Smith recovered a Ratliff fumble. With a major penalty added, Upland started at the Eagles’ 25 and Ronnie Esther needed two rushes to score, hurdling a tackler at the 10 on his 20-yard TD.

Etiwanda bounced back with another 80-yard drive that resulted in a score by Tacory Spencer, but a eight-drive Upland drive proved too much to overcome again.

Both teams exhibited tightness in the first half. In fact, the Scots and Eagles managed to gain a total of 218 total yards, almost evenly split as neither offense was able to maintain much, other than Etiwanda’s closing possession of the half.

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Trailing 9-0, the Eagles started on their 20 and steadily moved downfield. However, the drive seemed to stall as Etiwanda faced a third-and-22 following a fumble and penalty. But Upland was flagged for a face mask penalty to keep the drive alive.

Faced with a third-and-14, Ratliff hooked up with Jaye McMillian for 15 yards to keep the drive going. Two plays later, Ratliff kept the ball and scored from 14. However, just like Upland after its first touchdown, the extra point kick failed.

Upland, appearing very sluggish, scored on a similar 80-yard drive. The Scots needed nine plays and converted a pair of third-down plays in the process. Hilinski was 4 for 4 for 61 yards, including the final 25 to Trevor Wright on a bullet pass.

Midway through the second, MalikYoakum returned a punt 59 yards to the Etiwanda 11. The Scots were unable to punch it in, relying on Luk e Van Ginkel for a 41-yard field goal.